Daciana Muntean, Sigrid Michel

Stakeholder Analysis – A Methodological Approach

Stakeholder analysis supports the projects’ success. Through stakeholder analysis’ tools and techniques one can identify and understand the various interests, needs and expectations of different stakeholders, their power and influence, the networks or potential conflicts between them. Better communication management, risk management, conflict management and change management are therefore possible.

More than that, in a long term run, stakeholder analysis supports the companies’ success, for both profit and non-profit organizations. The accent shifts to a values-based approach, from an immoral or amoral management to a moral one. In this new approach, each stakeholder has not only responsibilities but also rights (and not only financial ones). The consideration of participatory approaches and of cross-cutting issues like gender equality, better governance and respect of human rights become a necessity and an integrated part of the company strategy.

Within this paper, the authors will detail an approach for undertaking stakeholder analysis with the help of five main methodological steps.